The Killer B's: Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham
09/25 Hour 1 - Astros West no longer American League West
[MUSIC PLAYING] Now at T-Mobile, get four 5G phones on us and four lines for $25 a line per month when you switch with eligible traders, all on America's largest 5G network. [MUSIC PLAYING] Minimum of four lines for $25 per line per month without a paid discount using debit or bank account, $5 more per line without auto pay, plus taxes and fees and $10 device connection charge. Phones would be a 24-monthly bill credits for well qualified customers, contact us before canceling entire accounts to continue bill credits or credit stop and balance on a required finance agreement to bill credit and if you pay off devices early, ctmobile.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] Please. ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 proudly present, the Killer B. It's definitely a fan of the Killer B's. Don't sweat the technique. Now from a Veritex community bank studios, bring you the fastest three hours in Houston sports radio. Here's Joel Blank and Jeremy Branham. Oh, what a breakdown. Hey, how are we doing? I am Branham. He is Blank. It is Brian behind the glass. And it is a Wednesday edition of the Killer B's on ESPN 97.5 and ESPN 92.5. It's an AL West championship edition of the Killer B's. A busy show, Blankers favorite person, Mike Greenberg. He's going to be joining us later on in the program. Are we stressing? Are we blessing? We can start talking about the postseason now because the Astros are in locking up the AL West divisional championship yesterday, fourth year in a row. They're saying the seventh of the last eight years, it's really the seventh straight full season AL West championship. The Houston Astros are the head of the table. When it comes to the AL West and they prove it yet again yesterday. Just a great way to get it done, too. You feel so good for Jason Hayward. I mean, there's a guy that wasn't even a thought in anybody's eye at the start of the season. Comes in when you need him most and delivers and delivers defensively, delivers with a bomb. And that was just a great way to close out a game and get a win and kind of put it all to bed. And now let's just get healthy and get this team as fresh and as healthy as it can be, getting ready for the postseason. Hayward's play, yeah. I thought he broke his hand whenever he went through the panel in the manual scoreboard, and in the very next inning, he hits a home run, which is the old baseball cliche, right? How often does a guy make a great play in the previous half inning? And in the next half inning, he does something offensively. He was the old adage in baseball. I literally thought of that because every announcer always mentions it. It always happens. He makes a play and you see him batting the very next half inning, and there he was. But just the sound that ball made off the bat, you knew that he got all of it. And just a great story. I'm pulling for the guy, and I'm really glad that he's here and been able to contribute the way he has. It took a lot of stuff to happen for him to get as much run as he's been getting. Because if Ben Gamble didn't get hurt, maybe you're not seeing much of Jason Hayward. And Hayward, good yesterday. My biggest takeaway from that game yesterday, and then obviously, the celebration, everybody's happy. Joe Espada managed that game like it was a playoff game, like it was game seven, like it was do or die. He was getting a lot of heat the previous day. Oh, he should have been more aggressive with his pitching staff, something that we didn't agree with. It's like, OK, if you're down by a run and you use all your leverage, guys, and then you don't score a run, well, then now you can't use them yesterday, at least two of the three. Because Hader would have went back to back games, and a Bray you would have went back to back games. So I thought Espada handled that well. But yesterday, you got a sample and a taste of what I think it's going to look like for the postseason when it comes to the pitching staff for the Astros. You want your starting pitcher to go as deep as you possibly can, and you have to have a quicker hook in the playoffs, and then you're going to turn it over to Brian to Bray to give you over and inning. Like he did yesterday, he got you out of the sixth inning. He got you through the seventh inning. Then you're going to be hopeful that Ryan Presley can get you out of the eighth. But if he can't, then Josh Hader is going to give you an inning or more. So I think we saw the recipe of what it's going to look like from the Astros deploying their pitchers. Starter, take me as deep as you can. We're willing to go to Brian and Bray you as soon as the sixth inning, and we're willing to use Josh Hader for more than an inning. - This is something that you and I were talking about the other day. I don't care how they get it done. Preferably, the extra load would go to a Bray you and to Hader because they proven they can do it. And Presley just kind of falls somewhere in the middle and gives you a little bit of a change of pace from the kind of speed that the other guys deliver. I saw Presley shaking his head last night when he got taken out. I saw him seemingly frustrated and I really don't care because at this point, from this point forward, I have no time for the bend there, done that and the feelings and the former closer stuff. The fact is is he hasn't looked great for quite a while now in the last couple of weeks. And you know the guys that you're going to have to lean on. So if it's a combination of those three, but the majority of the work is done by the two guys that bookend Ryan Presley, I'm totally fine with it. He did it last night. It worked perfectly. And I expect to see a lot of that in the postseason. - I'm glad that you've come around and started to be a little bit like me. And that's what everybody says, be more like Branham. Less fillings, like less, I don't care about- - I'm getting there, you're right, I'm getting there. - I care about champion ships and parades. I don't have time to worry about how people are filling or the way that they react to certain things whenever I'm trying to win a championship. Now to Presley's point, I think he was frustrated with himself. I don't think he was frustrated with the book. - You don't? - No, I don't think so. - I saw it from the minute he started, Joe started coming out of the dugout. He looked in and he started to shake his head. And I mean, obviously we don't know, but I just thought he was pissed he was coming out because he was one out from getting out of it. - Yeah, I'm sure he was mad at that he was coming out, but I don't think that he was blaming a spot or disagreeing with a spot. I think he was a little bit upset with himself for not pitching well. And he's been incredibly mediocre. Now, I think Presley's your eighth inning guy. Like a boy, he was gonna get you to the eighth inning. Presley's gonna try to pitch the eighth inning. And then Hader, if Presley can't pitch the eighth, he can't get you through the eighth inning. A spot is gonna take him out of the game because he knows he has Hader awaiting in the wings. Now, the recipe here is you need to start to go at least five innings, which yesterday, Fromber went five plus innings, didn't go all the way through six, but he got you to the sixth. So that's the recipe to me. Fromber, Hunter Brown, Kukuchi, Rennell Blanco, if Eric Getty gets to start, just kidding. If any of those guys get starts, try to get you at least into the sixth, then he'd be better if you get through the sixth inning. But yeah, I thought he managed that like a game seven, which I thought he managed it well. Fromber, what'd you think of his performance yesterday? - I thought, you know, it wasn't what we were used to seeing, but you're gonna have those kind of games, but I thought he battled well. I mean, you could tell he didn't want to come out of the game. He wanted to finish that inning. And thankfully, a Bray, you did his job and got it done for him. But I thought that he did everything that he could possibly do to keep you in the ball game. And there are gonna be days like that. So I was just fine with the way Fromber pitched. His pitch count was actually down for the most part. And I didn't have too many qualms in terms of how he pitched. - I thought he was pretty mediocre for his standard. Didn't get swinging miss much. Only struck out four. He's been striking out a bunch lately. Gave up a home run, which is pretty rare for Fromber or a ground ball guy. Eight hits, two walks. He allowed 10 base runners through five and two thirds. I thought for Fromber's standard, it was pretty mediocre for Fromber Voutus. But if that's his mediocre and like that's the low end of what you're getting from Fromber Voutus, who probably your best starting pitcher, then you take it. - Yeah, I mean, that's when you're top two guys, keep you in the ball game. And if that's the worst he's gonna give you for some of the great starts that he's given you for quite a while now, I'll live with that. I can be fine with that. I believe that this offense, especially when you put a guy like Jordan back into it, hopefully for the playoffs, I believe this offense is capable of giving you enough runs to live through whatever the starts that you get from Hunter Brown and Fromber, if they're like that. - 7560, I was there, nice flex. And when Presley came in, I told my buddy, this will show us if he comes back next year or not. Presley's under contract for next year for a lot of money. So actually, I think he's untradable. I think, I mean, Ryan Presley's gonna be an Astro next year. - He's got a no trade too, Dunny. - I don't know. - I believe he has a no trade and he's making over 14 next year. And it is, yeah, it's locked in. So yeah, you're not going anywhere unless he wants to go. You're not getting rid of him, he's here. - Yeah, yeah, apparently he does have the no trade, but he could wave it. I mean, if he goes somewhere, maybe he wants to close again, although I'm not sure how many teams are looking at him to close. He's the eighth, I don't think so. I mean, he's been pretty mediocre this year. Like his peripherals and his analytic, very mediocre. I don't think that even a Baltimore who's desperate for relief pitching is gonna trade for a guy in his mid 30s who has mid stuff. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, I just don't see it. - Christ tags, high too. I mean, if you get a trade for a guy, and yeah, as much as they pulled the plug on Kimbrell, they gave Kimbrell a lot of money too. I don't think they're gonna go and make a trade, give up something to get a guy that's making 14 plus. - Now, he probably wouldn't cost you a whole lot to trade for him, 'cause I don't think the Astros would be asking a whole lot 'cause you can get some money off the books. But I mean, this is a conversation for a different. Ryan Presley, she's currently your eighth inning guy. 859, Jason Hayward is our new Uncle Mike veteran who has been there, done that, who will help the team just like Uncle Mike. I like that comparison. - I really do. Now, he's not like the similar profile in terms of hitter. Like Brantley, great contact guy, always gonna touch the baseball, whereas Hayward, he's got a little bit more swing and miss, lower batting average, more pop than Brantley does. So I wouldn't say that it's a great comparison from what they do offensively, but in terms of like the veteran, the adult in the room, I agree. - I like it a lot, and I think that, you know, you've got a guy that plays better defense than Uncle Mike has a better arm than Uncle Mike, but right, you give some of the offensive nods to Brantley, but overall, I love the mutual respect that you heard after the game. The fact that the guys from the time he got here have just kind of done what you've said. I mean, looked up to him like kind of a big brother. Like the fact that he was able to put the message out there as an ex-dodger, as a guy that, you know, has been in other clubhouses to say the kind of vibe and the mood and the guys that are in that locker room and what he felt and why he wanted to contribute. I think it's a very good feel-good story for a team that finally can feel good about a season that's been just a rollercoaster. - Another texture. Do you think the Astros will be tired of the playoffs or will the adversity we had to overcome come all year will make us stronger in the playoffs? That was weird and funny, but do you think the Astros will be tired in the postseason? - No, I think this is why this is great. With, you know, with four games to go, you can start resting some of these guys so they're not as tired, so that they can kind of get a second wind. Hopefully the pitching staff can do that. Hopefully guys like Pragman and Peña and Altuve can get some rest. You need Jordan to kind of use these last four or five days to kind of, you know, get right. And then your role, I'm not really that concerned because of the fact that it's not going down to the actual wire. You've got a little gap here. - Yeah, I'm not concerned about it either. Chaz and Jordan are staying back in Houston instead of going to Cleveland that way they can work on getting back and getting better. We'll discuss the Jordan thing, which is kind of curious. Chaz, it seems like Chaz is gonna be back for the postseason. Like how much he plays once you get to the postseason? Who knows, but it seems like he's getting close. - Yeah, he was in there in the middle of the celebration and, you know, they've said that, I believe they said that while he's staying back, he's gonna take live batting practice. - Right. - So if that's the case, then he's got to be close and at least you give yourself another option and hopefully he can hit the baseball, but you know, losing gamble, losing some of the guys that you lost. If you can get him in the mix and he's a part of your playoff rotation, he's been there done that before too. You'll take all hands on deck in that case. - Yeah. - All right, seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero ESPN. We'll get your thoughts on yesterday's win. We'll get your thoughts on the Astros winning another divisional championship. We'll get your thoughts on Shay Whitcomb being the worst defensive third baseman that I've ever seen, that I've ever seen. Seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero ESPN, the HRMP listener line we're on Twitch, twitch.tv/espn975 on YouTube and ESPN Houston, YouTube ESPN 975, Plankers at Pac-Man Joel, Brian's at Zack by BMAC. I'm a Jeremy Branham, busy show on a Wednesday. Mike Greenberg will stress, will bless, maybe. Well, what is the Texans' identity offensively, defensively? Let's talk about the cryptic nature of what's going on with your on Alvarez when we come back. It is the bees on ESPN 975 and ESPN 9225. ESPN 975, now back to the killer bees on ESPN 975 and 925, live for the paratex community bank studios. Here's Joel Plank and Jeremy Branham. Larry Darger, Jimmy Nguyen, Don Wilson, Jose Cruz, Lance McCullers, Jose Altuve, Craig Bicchio, Joe Sanfito, Kyle Tucker, Dusty Bicchio. You know, I want to take a second to make sure that their bass cowboys are in the PCL championship. They pounded the Reno aces yesterday, 14 to two. 14 to two, they try to clinch the PCL championship game or appeal a PCL championship tonight against the Reno aces. They win, they play a one-game championship on Saturday in Vegas. So good luck to them, but we're giving away a pair of four-packs right now. Call our number three and four to 713-780-3776. You're going to watch these space cowboys in the Reno aces tonight as the space cowboys look for the PCL championship. All right, have you noticed how cryptic the Astros are being with your on Alvarez? I mean, they're always cryptic with injuries. There's no doubt about that. Your on had the quote yesterday before the game. Your on saying it's about time, not the worst, but it could have been the worst, which is like, okay, I guess that's good news. Like you're telling me that it's not the worst news you could have gotten, which worst news you're talking about a complete tear of the knee, but you're still not playing slash going to Cleveland, which is probably for the best. - Yeah, no, that's the one we talked about yesterday. Look, I mean, the guy has an unbelievable ability to not only just have the resilience of like not having to go to do any rehab and then be able to hit and kind of pick up where he left off. And as long as they took care of business and the sooner that they did it, I was fine with him not playing the rest of the regular season and just get him as right as you can possibly be for the postseason. I just don't know how good that's going to be because like you said, you're getting mixed messages from all over the place. - Yeah, and then this was Dana Brown. Dana Brown was on MLB network yesterday after the game and was asked like, you know, what do you got? What hurdles do you have to clear? What are some of the priorities as you get ready for the wild card series next Tuesday? You can listen to it right here on ESPN 97-5. And here is Dana Brown on Yordine. - Yeah, we're just hoping, you know, ultimately that Yordine is okay to play in the postseason. You know, that could be a big loss potentially if he's not ready to get back. So that's probably the biggest. - There you go. So Dana Brown kind of like, eh. - I mean, and you won- - But nothing burger. - You know he loves to talk, but do you wonder if that's just gamesmanship? - I don't think he loves to talk. - Oh, I think so. - I don't think so. - I think so too. I think that, you know, he seems to get out there quite a bit and make, you know, he goes on the TV telecast and they don't have to do that. - I think he doesn't add a respect to them. - Okay. - We can- - He doesn't seem like a toot my horn, pat myself on the back of the guy. I think he's modest. - But I think that he's used a lot. He throws a lot out there when he talks. - That's not liking to talk though. I mean, that's different. That's like whenever you talk, you say some things that you probably shouldn't say. That doesn't necessarily mean, oh, I need to be in the spotlight all the time 'cause I don't get that sense from Dana Brown. - I'm not saying it like that. I'm saying the fact that he, when he does all these interviews and he does quite a few, that he likes to throw a lot of information out there and that, you know, whether he's doing it intentionally all the time or not, the fact is, is that then people kind of use that as a measuring stick and when you don't meet those deadlines and those kind of things too, it's really easy to kind of get extra scrutiny. In this case, I don't know if that's just, you know, spinning it for gamesmanship. If that's truth, I just hope that with this amount of time that he has to rest, that he's going to be okay. - Yeah, I, he's definitely loose-lipped. There's no doubt about that. And when he talks, sometimes he says some things that he probably shouldn't say. He was on the flagship earlier today, said we'll have more detail on the knee sprain in a few more days once the swelling subsides. We're hoping we're gonna get good news, but if we, but if we lose your dawn, we're gonna need some guys to step up. Like I don't love that he said that last part. Like he's throwing out there if we lose him. It's like, okay, maybe that's a possibility. That you might indeed lose your dawn. - Yeah, that's worrisome. And there was, I think someone put it on Twitter as well that he had said to Hayward, we need you to step up or something like that. - Yeah, he said it to the telecast yesterday. - Yeah, so wherever I heard it or saw it, that's something that is again, when you hear that and then you couple it with what you just said up from his quote on the flagship today, it gives you a little uneasy feeling because for as much as they've been through, it seems like they have a chance to get healthy now and really have their full compliment going into the playoffs. And the last guy we've talked about all season long that you can afford to be without if you wanna make a legit run is 44. - This one from Dana Brown's a little bit more optimistic again to the flagship this morning. We'll let him rest and push him back. The goal is to take the extra five days that he needs. He did feel a lot better yesterday. We went all our guys ready for the start of the postseason. I think there's a very real chance that they just don't really know right now. Like they're kind of seeing how does he respond over the next couple of days. I get the feel like if I'm completely guessing and like my life depends on it, do I think I'll see him in the lineup on Tuesday against whoever they're playing? I get the feeling that he'll be in the lineup. I get the feeling he's gonna play. - I do too, but then the other thing that concerns me is that we'll know more when the swelling goes down, which we've heard previously with other injuries with other players too, but that's concerning because with the, if there's an excessive amount of swelling then they really don't know everything that they would like to know about the knee. And that bothers me. That gives me a little bit uneasiness. - I think you should be able to see it with the MRI even if there's a good amount of inflammation though, right? - I don't know because I've heard in the past that the level of inflammation, that's why they wait for it to go down because it can cloud up. - I thought that was with X-rays. - Okay, maybe I don't, like I said, I don't know, but I just, if he's got a good amount of swelling, that's reason for concern alone. - Yeah, I don't really know either. I know that it's definitely something you see in X-rays. I didn't know if it shows up at MRIs or not. 7-1-3, 7-8-0-E-S-P-N-3-2-0-9, Astra's used to come out and flat out, say that Yordon is done for the year. There are a bunch of liars for being dox. - You're wrong. - They're not dox. And then I think he's gonna play. Like he's in the dugout. He's like taking part in the celebration. I get the feeling he's gonna play. Although Lance McCullers was doing the same thing whenever he was out for the rest of the year in the playoffs a few years ago. 7-5-6-0 regardless, somebody has to step up. That's true. That's why I don't really put a whole lot of stock into the Jason Hayward thing. Because even if Yordon plays, I don't think he's playing left field. So you need Hayward to play left field, especially against right-handed pitching. - Yeah, I mean, look, you're gonna see some lineups in the next couple of days. You saw one today that it's not gonna really excite you much in terms of the ability to do a lot in the outfield. I think come play off time, you're gonna see a pretty steady dose of Jason Hayward and Yordon's gonna be your designated hitter. And then you're just gonna have to deal with the rest accordingly. That might mean yiner plays some first base so that your carotini plays first base so that you get another bat that you trust in the lineup. - Did the language of the Yordon injury change from Contusion to Spring? They never, I don't think they've ever said Contusion. - I never said Contusion, you and I were-- - With Yordon. - We were looking at yesterday, but the Spring-- - We were guessing what the injury would have been. But yeah, I don't think the Astros ever said Contusion. - Yeah, I think I've heard Spring the majority of the time. But yeah, I never heard Contusion. - Yeah, I never, that was speculating on like what the injury could have been. And really me, I thought it was a Contusion. But I never heard that the Astros said that. You mentioned the outfield. - Blankers asking the question if he's crazy for thinking Dubon should be the starting center fielder in the playoffs. Are you crazy Blankers? - I don't think so. I just think that-- - Don't think so. I mean, there are days that a lot of people would question my sanity or if I am crazy and that's fine. I look at Jake Myers as a guy that's lost at the plate and we've seen Chaz go through a lot of that too. And as good as he is defensively, I think Dubon is at least decent enough defensively. He's got some speed, he can do some things to where he can play a decent center field. But he gives you another bat in the lineup. And so, you know, the more I see Jake and the numbers since June are not good, I would consider it, like I said, and I'm crazy, but I would really consider starting Dubon in center field for Tuesday. - I think that people who watch baseball are way too binary when it comes to the lineups. It's like, here's my best nine and I should be playing this best nine every single day. Quite frankly, it shouldn't be that way. You should be looking at two different things. One, the pitcher that you're facing. And then two, who is the pitcher that you're throwing out there that day? Like when Fromberg Valdez is pitching, who's a very much a ground ball guy, you don't need to have the better defensive center fielder roaming center field. Hunter Brown tends to be a ground ball guy. You say Kakuchi's a little more fly ball. Renelle Blanca, a little bit more fly ball. So who's pitching for me matters a lot in this conversation. If Fromberg and Hunter Brown are pitching, I don't mind Marisha Dubon in center field. If it's Renelle Blanca and it's you say Kakuchi, I need Jake Myers in center field 'cause I'm gonna see more fly balls that day and I need my better defensive center fielder. Also, it matters a great deal who's pitching for the other team. I also think there's this notion that people think Marisha Dubon's just a way better offensive player than Jake Myers. Depending on the metric, Jake Myers is an 86 OPS, which is below average. Marisha Dubon has an 85 OPS plus. So in the totality of the year, Jake Myers has been slightly a more productive offensive player according to OPS plus. Dubon hits for a higher average. Myers slugs a little bit more. They're on base percentages relatively the same, but then it matters who the other pitcher is on the other team. Because if you look at the splits, Marisha Dubon's a better hitter against right-handed pitching, Jake Myers 69 OPS plus, Marisha Dubon's an 83 plus, okay? Dubon against Rides makes more sense than Jake Myers, especially if I'm using one of my ground ball pitchers. But against lefties, Jake Myers is a good hitter. 118 OPS plus, Marisha Dubon's an 81 OPS plus. So who would I rather have in the box against a leftie? Jake Myers. So I don't like the binary. Oh, this guy should be my everyday center for, no, it depends on who I'm pitching, depends on the pitcher that I'm facing. - And I look at it too from the standpoint of, I just think Jake looks kind of lost at the plate. He looks like, you know, again, kind of what we've talked about when we saw Chaz really scuffling. And so that's concerning to me. I'm totally with the fact that, you know, based on who's pitching and the splits, you go accordingly. I just hope that there's another option. And I hope that they, you know, they look at it from that perspective. 'Cause I've heard people throw Hayward's name out there. Hayward's gonna probably gonna be your left fielder. And I don't think he's quick enough, no matter how good his arm still might be, to play center field. - Who's that? - Jason Hayward. - No, I think you're options in a center field or Jake and Dubon, and I think Dubon, I think Dubon gets some starts in center field, but I don't think he gets starts in center field against the left handed pitching. There's a good chance Marisha Dubon plays left field against left handed pitching, depending on where Chaz is at. I don't think he should play center field behind Eric Getty and Blanco and Kakuchi. - You think that if Chaz, we just talked about Chaz possibly making the playoff roster, you think Chaz gets a look in center? - Potentially, but you don't know where he's at offensively. - Right, right. - I mean, you're evaluating based on live pitching that you're seeing, like it's kind of dicey. - Yeah. - I don't know. - No, that's why, I mean, I'm just looking at options. And Chaz, we don't know if it's the Chaz that was picking it up once he went down to Sugar Land, that when he called him up until he got hurt, had a little pop, look like he was a little, you know, a little more confident at the plate, or it's the Chaz that we've seen all season long, which was scuffling probably as bad or worse than Jake. - Yeah. - All right, seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero ESPN. What, what Astro playoff questions do you have? Now that they're in, seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero, three, seven, seven, six. And now that they are locked in to the postseason, they are locked into the three-seat too, by the way. So they'll be hosting the Wild Card Series next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday time to be determined, and we'll carry it here on ESPN 97.5. Now that the playoffs are locked in, what does the AL Wild Card roster look like? And what is your three-man rotation for that AL Wild Card Series? It is the B's on ESPN 97.5 and ESPN 92.5. - Guys, while we go to the breaker word for vanderfordair.com. Vanderford, they're, they're the best in the business because they back up everything they do in writing and they guarantee everything that they're going to do for you. And it's everything under the sun when it comes to air conditioning, dehumidifiers, plumbing, and so much more. You can check out all the things that they do in the services they offer at vanderfordair.com. But I'm telling you right now, if you're looking to put a dehumidifying system into your AC unit in the house, they can do that. If you're looking for quality air conditioning people that are going to put everything in writing, back up everything that they do and take care of you with honesty and integrity, guaranteeing the work and the parts and labor, they are going to be the one that you should call. I'm going to tell you right now to put this number in your phone, save it till you need it or call them so that you don't need them when it's, when it's an emergency. 281557 Cool gets you in touch with them and that's where the guarantees begin. 281557 Cool gets you with vanderfordair, then when you tell them what's going on, they're going to tell you within 24 hours of you getting in contact with them, they'll be there at your door to see what they can do to help. Once they start the process, everything's going to be put in writing. If it's a part that needs to be replaced, they're going to tell you what it's going to cost and they're going to put that in writing to do the actual job. If it's going to be putting in a whole new system, they'll give you that option too. And then everything from there is guaranteed as well. Best value at the lowest cost to you, the comfort assurance guarantee that the temperature, it will be exactly what they said it would be. Quality workmanship from their people, they're going to do it right the first time and it will work well once they do it. And the performance guarantee that everything operates at factory standards, 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back. That's what you need when you're dealing with a company that offers services. That's why I tell you about vanderfordair. Check out vanderfordair.com or save that number. 281557 Cool. ESPN 975 (upbeat music) Now back to the killer beans on ESPN 975 and 925. Live for the Veritex Community Bank Studios, here's Joel Blanken, Jeremy Brennan. (dramatic music) What does the Yale wild cart roster look like for the Houston Astros? It's a little different how these teams handle their roster when it comes to the wild cart round because you only play in three games. Now you are playing in three games in three days which can make it a little tricky. I saw teams last year like Tampa Bay last year kept 15 position players only kept 11 pitchers and then you go all the way to the other end of the spectrum where teams kept 13 hitters and 13 pitchers. The only rule is they have to have a max of 13 pitchers. You can keep less but a maximum of 13 pitchers. I think that the Astros will keep 14 players and 12 pitchers, just kind of my guess in what the average is for these majorly baseball teams. And we really don't have anything to operate from because the Astros since COVID and that was a completely different regime haven't played a three game series. Right, yeah, and it is getting tricky because how many starters are you gonna keep in that pitching list because of the fact that, like you said, you're only gonna need three but if there's a hiccup at all or someone to go long you might wanna keep an extra one starter just in case and then you roll from there with whatever you have to do to kind of backload your bullpen in between the big three in the back and guys that can get guys out in a short period of time like couple out three hitters. That's gonna be interesting because of the fact that we just got done talking about the fact that whether you're looking for a couple extra center fielders, you're looking for a couple extra position players because you're playing both your catcher's a lot is Salas are gonna make the team. Those are things that to keep an eye on before they finalize that roster before Tuesday's game. - Do you keep it there, catcher? - I think I do, I do because of the fact that you're relying so heavily on both of those guys in the lineup every game. - You can pick two right-handed bats. Shay Wickham, Gray Castinger, Chas McCormick. We're assuming he's healthy. - Shay Wickham, Chas McCormick and Gray Castor's out. Gray Castor's out. - Really? - Yeah. - Much better defender. - He is but I mean, I've got Dubon where I can use him in a lot of different places. - You want him in center? - And I've got Wickham that can play the end field too. - Yeah. - Yeah. - I know you love that noise. He's got like four errors today. - Okay, today. - He's a butcher. - Okay, he's also probably, he was probably a consumer last night too. So I don't know. - That's fair. - Yeah, I don't know what kind of state of mind he's in today. But I just don't, I mean, look, Gray Castinger made one defensive play late here in the last couple of weeks that was really good. - He had one in the playoffs last year. - I don't trust, I don't expect anything from him offensively. - No, I would agree. Wickham's a better bad. Castinger's a better defender. I think that's not up for debate. So just depends on like which one of the two you'd rather keep. I have yiner, Caratini Salazar. I went 14 hitters, 12 pitchers. I'm keeping the three catchers because you are playing both catchers most of the time. My infielders are single 10 out of two of a Peña, Bregman, Dubon, I kept Castinger. I'm assuming Yordon's gonna be back. I'm assuming McCormick's gonna be back and then Myers Tucker Hayward for 14 position players. My starting rotations, Fromber, Hunter Brown, Kakuchi, not in a specific order. Those are just my three starters. And then I have Hader, Presley, Abreya, Naira, Scott. I'm assuming he's back. He might not be back. Kayla Bort, Kayla Ferguson, Renele Blanco, Spencer Araghetti. The back end of that bullpen, would you rather have Justin Verlander or like Kayla Bort or Kayla Ferguson? - I'm gonna take Verlander over Ferguson. - So he's making your roster. - Yeah, I would put Verlander. If they don't do something with a quote unquote, injury designation and leave him off to kind of say face. - I don't get the sense they're gonna do that. 'Cause I think that they might, I think that they want to have him on the roster if you get deeper into the playoffs. 'Cause if you're keeping 12 pitchers here, good chance you're keeping 12 players in the division series, pitchers. But if you go to the league championship series, you're gonna keep their team. And I think that they could have Verlander, I think they could have him on the wildcard roster. I think it's in play. I think his role, if he is on a playoff roster in any series, I think will be as the emergency long guy. - I think that's probably right. And I also think that if you're gonna make a decision for me as it comes down to Justin Verlander or Kayla Ferguson, and who do I trust to get at least three outs? And especially Verlander's emptying the tank, I would lean Justin Verlander strongly over Kayla Ferguson no matter what he's done as a starting pitcher. - Yeah, see, I think that's like probably the one area that we haven't really taken into consideration, is that pitcher 11, 12 or 13 on this roster is really not that good. So like, oh, Justin Verlander's been a bum lately, can't be on the roster. Okay, would you rather have him or would you rather have Kayla Ferguson? - Yeah, no doubt. - And if Taylor Scott's hurt, well then there's a 12 pitcher too. - Yeah. - Seth Martinez or Justin Verlander? Sean Dubin or Justin Verlander? - Those are no brand years leaning Justin Verlander's way. And I think that that's what people have to keep in mind is no matter what you've thought of him down the stretch and what versus what you expected to see, if he's only got to get three outs for you or even if he's got to get six outs for you, it's different than as a starting pitcher where he can really kind of let it go and empty the tank. He's got enough and he's got that experience in his back pocket to pitch in big time situations that I trust him like far more than any of those other guys. - Yeah, I wouldn't say that I trust him much. Like I don't love the word trust, but who do I think has a less chance for terrible damage? Oh, Verlander by an edge. But I think it's more because of the role. It's more of, okay, if I'm in an emergency, I'm in the 12th inning, I've already used up my entire bullpen. Okay, Verlander, go give me as many innings as you can possibly give me. So that role makes a little bit more sense than like, okay, do you really need to carry a second lefty? And it might depend on who you're facing and what their lineup looks like. What is your three-man rotation? So wild card series, three games, three days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, right here, ESPN 97.5, what is your three-man rotation? - To me, it's Fromber, the three guys are Fromber, you mentioned him, Fromber, Hunter Brown and Kakuchi. And I would be very, very particular about who I pitch in game three, because if you win game one and you have a chance to win the two games right away and you can save that third pitcher for the first game of the divisional series, I would love it to be either Hunter Brown or Fromber Valdez. I think Fromber's getting game one no matter what. I think it means something to him. I think they're putting him on the hill. He's also got the most experience. That's a no-brainer to me. And then it just becomes what happens in game one should dictate how you handle game two. If you win game one, I would throw Kakuchi and have Brown as your third starter, either for a big game that you need or for the fact that if you can win two in a row, you can roll him over and be the first pitcher in the next series. - It would be his first play I'll start. Either one, Kakuchi or Hunter Brown. - I'm still fine with that. You're at home and I believe that they, I just think, I think that you can roll with that. - So you're gonna get cute based on what happens in game one. - I don't know if I'm getting cute. I'm trying to be strategic. I mean, you like to nitpick my words, but I'm gonna say it's strategic in the fact that I either got him who I really believe in in a do or die situation. And if you're lucky enough to win the first two, now I got him starting the first game of the next series and I would take him over the opportunity to start just about anybody else, not named Fromber Valdez. - I think cute and strategic are kind of the same thing. I actually like the idea. I'm annoying you, but I actually like the idea. I think the most important thing to do though is to decide who is your best starter. Now, starting Fromber in a game one over Hunter Brown means that you are flipping the rotation because Hunter Brown pitched two games ago, Fromber Valdez pitched yesterday, so that would be a flip-flop of what the current order is. I think you have to determine who is your ace. Who is your ace going into the postseason? The reason that I think that's important is because look, I'm trying to win a championship. Yes, you need to win a wild card round before you win a championship, but you have a week here to game plan how you want to operate. And I think that if you determine who your ace is now, okay, pitch him in game one on October 1st, that means that if you advance, you're gonna be able to have that guy for game two of the divisional series. And if you start in game two of the divisional series, you're gonna be pitching on normal rest for a potential game five of the division series as well, which is an elimination game. So to me, it's more important to determine who your number one starter is. Pitch that guy early, because if you're pitching him early, that gives him the best chance to pitch often. And if Fromber pitches game one of the wild card series, he would be ready for game two of the divisional series, which means he'd be ready for game five of the divisional series as well. So I would have Fromber as my number one starter. I don't care too much who my number now, I'm pitching Hunter Brown if I lose game one. I'm with you there, but if I win game one, I really don't care. I could go either way. I thought long and hard about your idea too. And I think it's a fair idea. I think it's a sound idea. I just don't think it has that much importance because of what it means for the division around. Because if you pitch, yeah, if you pitch like, say you win game one, you save Hunter Brown for game three, kakuchi wins in game two, then Hunter Brown's available for game one. But if you get to a game five, do you want Hunter Brown in an extra day rest or Fromber Valdez on full rest? - To me, the one day I'm still, I still want Fromber Valdez on full rest and I'm rolling with it. - That's why I don't think it's a huge advantage for Hunter Brown to have to go game one. Because in that scenario, Hunter Brown starting one game in the postseason, unless you're using them in short rest on three days rest in game four, which I'm not doing. So having Hunter Brown for game one, he's still only making one start. So the advantage to me of having him ready for the division series just isn't great enough, because Fromber Valdez is my dude. - Yeah, and you're right, I don't like to think too far ahead, but because of the fact that this is kind of different territory for you not having to buy, having to play the wild card series. But if you can get through the wild card series and just in different order, you can set up the divisional series to have both Fromber and Brown pitch the first two games of the next series, I would be ecstatic. - Does it matter that they're pitching the first two games or does it matter that they're starting three of the five though? And doesn't really matter the order. Because if you save Hunter Brown, you're going Hunter game one, Fromber game two, and then if you go to a game five, you have the option of either one. But say you pitch Hunter Brown in a game two, you win the series, whether it's two or three games doesn't really matter in this situation. You would have game one of the divisional series would be on Saturday the fifth. So Hunter Brown wouldn't be available. Hunter Brown would have to rest the third, rest the fourth, rest the fifth, rest the sixth, be available for the seventh, which is an off day, and then pitch game three. So you would have Fromber, probably Blanco in a game two, off day, Hunter Brown game three, probably Kakuchina game four, off day, and then Fromber Valdez. So either way, either recipe, whether Hunter Brown pitches in game two, Hunter Brown pitches in game three, no matter what, you're getting Fromber and Hunter Brown three of the five games in the division series, the order just is kind of different. - Yeah, and I think that's the main thing. I think that you obviously don't want to run these guys out there on short rest. And if you're getting extra rest, and the fact that those two guys are going to be in the mix, then you're probably in a pretty decent situation. And hopefully Kakuchi gives you the same kind of effort that he's been giving you since he's been in an Astros uniform to where you feel confident if he or Blanco or whoever decides to fill the gaps that you do that. But at least you're in a good enough spot. - Now, the other argument could be here, we'll map it out to the league championship series. And if you have Hunter Brown going to game one, Fromber in a game two, and you win a short series, then you have those guys earlier in a league championship series. So you can even go around greater, and I think that that probably adds a little bit more credibility to the win game one with Fromber, save Hunter Brown for game three, or division series game one, and then have Kakuchi going game two. My biggest thing is Fromber pitches game one. I don't really care a whole lot after that, as long as Hunter Brown's pitching game two, if you're down one nothing. - Yeah, I think that's the other thing to look at this. Look, if I'm looking and putting the card above in front of the horse a little bit, because of the fact that I'm worried about the next series, and also having Hunter Brown, whether it be a decisive game three, or to make sure those two guys, your first two games of the divisional series, the one thing that is certain is, if you lose game one, that Hunter Brown's pitching game two, 'cause there is no tomorrow's, and there's no reason to think any further than every, it's just about that game. - Now to be fair, you got to win both. - You do? - You got to win both, like everybody's like, "Oh, you got to win game two?" Well, you got to win game two and game three. Like, obviously you're not using both pitchers in a game two. Three, two, zero, nine, wall or card rotation, has to be Fromber, game one, Blanco, game two, and then Kakuchi, game three. Where's Hunter Brown? - There's Hunter Brown. - Three, two, zero, nine. What are you doing with Hunter Brown? - You've seen what we've seen since the All-Star break, and you know, once he's gotten right, how do you not have him in that equation? - Yeah, I don't understand. Brian, do you have anything different than our three-man rotation? Fromber, game one, we're unanimous there. Blankers will hold back Brown. If you win the game one for game three, pitch Kakuchi in game two, I don't really care after game one, as long as Hunter Brown's going in game two, if you're down one nothing. - I would, I mean, obviously I'm, it's unanimous with Fromber, pitch in game one, that's a no-brainer. I would go ahead and pitch Hunter in game two, even if you're up, because I like, like as you pointed out Jeremy, being able to have Fromber or Hunter in three of the five in ALDS, that's kind of the tiebreaker to me. - Well, you can have three of five if you pitch him in game three, too. It would just be a little bit different order. - Yeah, it would be a little bit different order being later in the series as well though, right? - Well, if he pitches in game three on the third, he would be out the fourth, out the fifth, out the sixth, out the seventh. He'd be available to go game three on the eighth. - Yeah, yeah, I would still like to have him earlier in the series for them if you get to the ALCS that he's available earlier than ALCS as well. So I would go ahead and pitch Hunter in game two. - All right, and it sounds like we're all pretty similar, depending on the way that it goes. Hopefully you just win in two games and you move on, I hate three game series. I hate five game series, I hate three games even worse. - Yeah, I mean, I would love it and obviously with time involved and the broadcast and everything like that. But I would love that once you get to the playoffs that you have legit, like five game series for the wild cards fine, but I really want the divisional and the league championship series to both be seven games. - Yeah, that'd be nice. I wonder, you remember at all the time these games were played last year? I wonder what time we're looking at next week. - There were a lot of day games. - Jump off of the wild card? - Yeah. - Yeah, it depends, again, and it depends of the sexiness of the matchup 'cause they stack 'em to where there are, there's a lot of day games. - Yeah, it'll be interesting to see. Maybe we'll be a post game show next week. All right, seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero, three, seven, seven, six, where did the Texans stack up in offense and defensive coaching duos in the NFL? It is the B's on ESPN 97.5 and ESPN 92.5. - Guys here to tell you about my bookie.ag. It's the place I always tell you to go and you wanna put some money down on some games and we know now there's gonna be playoff baseball in Houston. You know that you're gonna be pulling for the home team whether you put money down on the strobes or maybe you contemplate trying to make sure that you're covered if you get really ticked off that the Astros lose. Regardless, go to my bookie.ag 'cause they're always taking care of you, the customer. They've been in business for over a decade. They're always taking care of their customers. They wanna make sure they do the same for you. That's why we always give you our promo code BET975. When you use that promo code, it opens the door to extra opportunities, starting with extra money in your account when you put in your first deposit. When you go to my bookie.ag and you put money into your account, you're gonna find out that when you use our promo code, they're gonna put money on top of it up to a thousand dollars and that's gonna be almost instantaneously. When you look into your account, you're gonna have more money. That means more games you can bet on and more chances you can win. And the more you bet, the more you can cash in as well because they have a loyalty rewards program. It's called my bookie plus. When you get involved in my bookie plus, as you make more bets, you climb up the different levels of tiers of rewards for those that are loyal to them as customers. The better the more you play, the better the rewards for you that day and everyday going forward. It's fantastic. And when there's no games to bet on or you feel like a little Vegas action, you don't have to fly to Vegas or drive to Louisiana. All you gotta do is go to my bookie.ag where live dealers are standing by for those casino games too. Check them out today, go to my bookie.ag, use the promo code I always tell you to use and that's bet nine, seven, five and do what I always say, which is to bet anything, anytime, anywhere. With the only place I tell you to do it, it's my bookie.ag promo code, bet nine, seven, five. You're listening to ESPN 97-5. (upbeat music) Broadcasting live from the Veritex Community Bank Studios, it's the Killer B's with Joel Blanken, Jeremy Branham. - On ESPN 97-5 and 92-5. - School, old school says I made $20 scamming the website. Proud of you. Could we jail time for that? - Could we get jail time for that? I don't know, Mr. Mina. - I'm not sure how that works. I'm not a big scammer. All right, seven, one, three, seven, eight, zero, three, seven, seven, six. I saw this from, they say, I always butcher her name, Mina Mina Kimes. - Mina Kimes. - Mina Kimes. - Mina Kimes. Mina Kimes was talking about the best offensive, defensive play callers on a single team and she was talking up O'Connell and Brian Flores and said, you know, how many coaches, offense, defensive tandem, do you have higher than Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores? And if you want to go recency bias, I think it's completely fair to say that the Vikings have the edge over the Texans when it comes to that. I think it's fair to say O'Connell Flores over D'Amico Sloak, especially this week after they hammered you by 27. - We always factor in head to head when there's any kind of a tie or a disagreement in terms of who we're going with. I think after what you saw last week, it's a no-brainer that they have an edge over those two guys. - Yeah, so I would have them higher than the Texans. - Who else jumps out to you? Who jumps off the page when you're talking about the top offensive, defensive coaching duos in the NFL? Who would you have ahead of the Texans? Who would you have? Let's have a conversation about where they stack up with the Texans. - There's one to me that screen jumps off the page to me right away. That'd be Andy Reed and Steve Spagmill and I have four. - I have four. - I have four that are ahead of the Texans, no doubt. And I have four that let's have a conversation. That was one of the four that had. - That's probably, I mean, that's gotta be number one. I would assume on everyone's list. - I have it. - That would be hard to argue with. - That was my one. - Andy Reed is the best offensive mind, I think in NFL history and Steve Spagmilla has the Kansas City Chiefs playing to a top three level defense. Last year they were second. I don't know where they stack up currently, but they're again playing at a very high level. That was my one too. I think it was pretty unanimous. - Yeah, no doubt. And I also think that from the standpoint of Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, I think that if you don't think it's Andy Reed, I'm thinking just solely from the offensive play calling standpoint. - I would put San Francisco and I would-- - Who's their defensive coordinator? - I don't even remember. - There you go. That's why, the reason that I'm asking that and I'm being a smart alloc here is because whenever I was having this internal dialogue with myself earlier today, I was like, you know what? I don't even know the 49ers offensive coordinator. - They fired him. - I had to Google it. Yeah, they fired him. They fired him last year. It's Nick Sorensen, who is the first year defensive coordinator. So I don't have San Francisco on my list at all. I don't have, they're not one of the four I have whenever I'm talking about top offensive defensive duo. Because I'm looking for balance here. And I didn't even have them as one of my four babies. Like to me, because your defensive coordinator is a no-namer in his first year, hasn't really earned anything yet. They're not playing all that well. They didn't make it for me. - Yeah, I mean, that's the thing. I just think so highly of the offensive play colors, you're right. I couldn't tell you who their defensive coordinator is. And then you would have McVay in that mindset from an offensive perspective for me. But then what Marine Morris left. And so they replaced him. So it's a different defensive coordinator. So I'm in the same boat. - No, he's still there, isn't he? - No, he's the head coach of the Falcons. - Oh, yeah, it's really me. - I put the Lions in there. - Chris Shula. - Yeah, I put the Lions in there with our guide, Benny Johnson. And then of course, former Texan Aaron Glenn is the offensive coordinator. - They were in my babies. - Yeah, they're not obviously, they're not locked to be ahead of the Texans. And they've, Benny Johnson has certainly lost a little bit off his star, I think. At the start of the season, the offense hasn't been super crisp by the running game. Jared Goff has dropped off a little bit, but I think there's someone that you would at least be in the conversation. - They were in my babies, have the conversation. I think Benny Johnson's star as an offensive coordinator is brighter than Bobby Slowick's star. I really don't think it's in the same level, but I would say to MECO greater than Aaron Glenn, more than Ben Johnson greater than Slowick. - I agree with that. - So I think that one's tight, but I would give the slide edge to the Texans. - Yeah, so we've got, what do we got? We got Kansas City, Minnesota, and then it's open for discussion at this point. - I miss count. I have three as the ones that are better than the Texans. So you're missing one. - I'm trying to think. - You're missing one. - Okay, I'm trying to think of who the third one would want to be, Buffalo? - No, I had Buffalo in the babies. Although I think you could say Buffalo is better. Sean McDermott's been really good there for quite some time. Hasn't always called the defensive plays, like they had Leslie Frazier there for a while, and they have Joe Brady. And they have Joe Brady. And Joe Brady has had that offense playing at a very high level since he took over. So I would have no qualms if you wanted to go Buffalo over the Texans, but they weren't my, they were in the maybe, not the for sure. - I think I figured out who yours is. And I disagree with it because you're way higher on this guy than I am, but is it the commanders? - They were in my babies. - They were on my babies. - I know you love Cliff Kingsbury. - They were on my babies too. - I know you love Cliff Kingsbury. - You love him more than I do. - Yeah, I think he's a good offensive coordinator. I don't know if he's an elite offensive coordinator. - So they're in the babies. - They were in the babies. So you've gotten three of my four babies. McDermott Brady, Quinn, Kingsbury. 'Cause Dan Quinn's a really good defensive play caller. And Kingsbury was in the conversation to be the Texans play caller offensively. - I'm looking at all. - So you're all off one maybe? - I'm stumped with, oh, well, no, because of the defensive side. I know you like Mike McDaniel, but I don't think the Dolphins. - No, they weren't on my team. - Yeah, that's out. - I don't, I'm lost at all. - I don't, I'm lost. - One of them may, I'll give you the babies. We'll have one more maybe. And I would have the Texans ahead of this maybe, but I think it's maybe worth the discussion. Kellen Moore, Vic Fangio? Kellen Moore's led a number one offense in the NFL. Bobby Sloeic has not done that. - I'm not super high of Vic Fangio. - I'm not a big, that's my hang-up here. - Yeah, Vic Fangio made 2000s ahead of a brighter star than he does right now. - I think Moore's better than Sloeic, for what it's worth. But I don't think Fangio's as good as D'Amico. And I would go back to the conversation with the Lions where D'Amico greater than Fangio, more than Kellen Moore greater than Bobby Sloeic. - Agree. - So in the conversation, probably out on them. You are missing the one other one I have. - Yeah, I know it. I'm looking at who could pass the Harbaugh and the Chargers? - No, I'm not a big Harbaugh and the Chargers. - Man, I, I'm looking, I know you like Steichen, but Andy's defense has been pretty bad. - I'm actually a little bit out on Steichen. I didn't love the way that he managed to game against the Texans. I didn't love the way that he's used Anthony Richardson. - I think I figured it out. - All right, let's hear it. - Matt LaFloor and-- - Yep, I'm surprised it took you so long. - Yeah, yeah. - I'm bullish on that. - Their new defensive coordinator is pretty solid. He's been doing pretty good. - And LaFloor, like for as much as people give credit to McVay and to Shanahan, and I think O'Connell is kind of the next trend, I think McDaniel. I think, actually, I love McDaniel. I think McDaniel is a little overrated, quite frankly. I think that one of the more underrated offensive play callers in the NFL is Matt LaFloor. I really do. - What he's done post Aaron Rodgers, and you would, I don't think you'd be surprised, but I think it's surprising to me because of how big a homers they are back home, that they've turned the corner. They thought when Rodgers left, that LaFloor was a less than. And now, because especially this year when you lose Jordan Love and you take Malik Willis, who you took basically off the scrap heap at the end of cut, right before cut down day, and you gave him two starts and got two wins, and you see the productivity in the offense. There are people giving Matt LaFloor a ton of flowers promising. They will never be, they will not cut him down again. The biggest thing was last year, Joe Berry was a horrible defensive coordinator, and everybody kept saying how many first round picks they spent on the defense. This year, Haffley, they're doing some things, and their defense is all over the place. - And the reason that I'm really high on Haffley is because Kevin O'Connell is high on Haffley. And I really like Kevin O'Connell. His opinion matters to me, but I think McVay's great. I think he's one of the better offensive minds in the NFL. I think he's probably top five. I think that he has a case for the top three. Like you would say your reach, you would say your McVay's, you would say your Shanahan's. I think O'Connell's right there. I think LaFloor is right there, quite frankly. And then I think Haffley is the defensive coordinator that no one quite knows yet, because it came from Boston College. He was actually, had Boston College playing really well, and that's not an easy place to win. O'Brien's actually hasn't played him pretty well, too. I think he's gonna be a really good defensive coordinator in the NFL. So I would have LaFloor, Haffley, I'm not having Haffley, LaFloor, Haffley is good. Is O'Connell Flores read Spagnola? But I have him ahead of the Texas, three, no doubters. - I would put LaFloor, because of, I think because of LaFloor ahead of the Texans. I mean, LaFloor's developed more quarterbacks in the last two weeks than the Bears have in a hundred years. So I would certainly give the edge to LaFloor over Sloak. I think the advantage of LaFloor to Sloak is greater to use the exercise you used the earlier than it is on the defensive side for the Texans. - I think it's close. Like when you look at the tandem, but I would have the Packers slightly ahead. - Yeah, I think the biggest thing is going to be from Haffley's perspective. He hasn't proven anything more than three weeks into the league, whereas at least from a D'Amico perspective, he's gotten you playoff wins. He's done things with his defensive players to where he factors in as a win there. - 993 Salah Hackett, I'm not joking with Hackett. He became a meme as a head coach and is awful with that, but his OC resume is stellar. - Please miss me on all of that because of the fact that his OC resume rests firmly on the right arm of Aaron Rodgers. - Yeah, I wouldn't have saw. I think D'Amico's better than Salah, although I think they're in the same ballpark. I really do. But I'm not a, I'm not a thing of a Hackett guy. - No, Nathaniel Hackett is, look, Aaron Rodgers made that guy and because he liked that guy and lobbied for that guy. And then because of the fact that there were teams out there that wanted him because they thought they could get that guy if they got him. That's the sole reason that they went and got him as a head coach because they thought Aaron Rodgers would follow him. And now he's just kind of another puppet for Aaron Rodgers to call whatever he wants. - All right, who did we miss? 713-780-3776 and speaking of the Texans and the offense and the defense, what is their offensive identity? What is their defensive identity? It is the bees on ESPN 97-5 and ESPN 92-5. (crowd cheering) - Got him! (crowd cheering) - For the fourth year to row. And the seven can take it a full season. The Astros are the ALS champions. - Your Houston Astros are back in the playoffs. - And we'll try one. How you did to right there? - That's good! - And you can hear every playoff game right here on ESPN 97-5 and 92-5. - Owning a rental property sounds like a dream until you realize how much work goes into getting it ready. Determine a competitive rent price, market the property, schedule the showing screen, 10-inch draft at the least at a recollection handling, it's requesting a communication. Oof, sound complicated? Runners warehouse is here to take the hard work off your rental to-do list. Qualify tenants, check, rent collection, check, maintenance coordination, you got it. Go to Runnerswarehouse.com for a free rental analysis to find out how much your home can rent for. Or call 303-974-9444. Because from now on, the only thing you need on your to-do list is to call Runners warehouse.